Grand View captured its ninth straight national title (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)WICHITA, Kan. -- Brackets | Team Scores | No. 1 Grand View claimed their ninth consecutive national title tonight while crowning two individual national champions at the 2020 NAIA National Championship at the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.
Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (SR/Buffalo, NY) earned his first national title at his respective weight, 157, after defeating Casey Dobson of Providence in sudden victory, 4-2.
Evan Hansen won his fourth national title (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Evan Hansen (SR/Kimballton, IA) also earned his fourth-consecutive national championship making Grand View history in being the first wrestler to earn four-straight national championships and the eighth wrestler in the NAIA. Hansen made his mark in the championship when he pinned Isaac Bartel of Montana-State in a fall of 6:37.
Grand View scored a total of 157 team points to take the 2020 NAIA Team Title. A 72.5 point gap from the second-place team, Reinhardt, Grand View dominated throughout the tournament. No. 1 Vikings head coach, Nick Mitchell, tied the longest collegiate championship-winning streak alongside Dan Gable at the University of Iowa.
Justin Portillo (JR/Clarion, IA) made his first national championship final appearance where he fell to Nick Kunz of Montana-State by decision 4-1. Portillo finishes the 2020 season 25-7. Kendon Lee (JR/Addis, LA) also made his first championship final appearance where he was pinned in the third period at 6:46. Lee recorded a 22-5 record.
Tanner Abbas (FR/Kanawha, IA) fell in the third-place match by decision 4-1 from Devin Everk of Menlo. Abbas finished the tournament in fourth. Teammate Dalton Jensen (FR/Downs, IL) finished 6th while earning All-American honors.
At 165, both Kyle Caldwell (JR/Willard, MO) and Giovanny Bonilla (SO/Kissimmee, FL) fell in the semi-finals. Bonilla went on to the consolation no. 5 match where he was injured. In the 5th place matchup, he withdrew due to medical forfeit. Caldwell went on to grab the third-place finish after taking down Isaiah Luellen of Baker by decision 9-3.
Kendrick Jones (SR/New Orleans, LA) represented the Vikings in the 184 bracket. Jones advanced to the semi-finals where he fell to Anthony Orozco by decision 4-3. Jones finished 5th at the national championship after defeating Colton Gonzalex of Marian by decision 8-4.
Falling in the quarter-finals, Matt Kent (SR/Edwardsville, IL) fought back in the blood round to earn All-American honors and move onto the second day. Kent finished the championship placing 8th.
Grand View has earned a total of 104 All-Americans and 30 individual national championships.
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